Family Dynamics and Substance Abuse: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The authors discuss family patterns of interaction that are thought to contribute to the maintenance of substance abuse. Preliminary research findings pertaining to the interaction patterns are also presented. The data suggest that these families are often highly interdependent, that in about 50% of the cases they ideally desire some sort of triangulation between parents and offspring, and that in about 50% of the cases they have or are working toward a hierarchical reversal. Therefore, in addition to evaluating characteristics of the substance abuser, the authors recommend that counselors consider the nature of relationships within the client's family of origin.